Nails

April 4, 2012

Prying Up a Long Nail, Photo by Tomwsulcer (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)

There is a plaintive line from the old Simon and Garfunkel song, El Condor Pasa (If I Could), that speaks about the superiority of hammers to nails. Sometimes we feel that way, Christians and non-Christians alike. So tired of the pounding, we’re tempted to change places with the hammer. So beleaguered that any road seems better than the one we’re on. If only we could leave our burdens behind.

It is worth remembering that nails hold things together. Tables, chairs. Even skyscrapers. Maybe you are the “nail” holding a family or organization together. Maybe you are the one “nail” on whom someone’s life hangs.

A certain Carpenter we all know used nails. In fact, He continues to use them. He was hung on a cross by – and for – them.

“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:13-14).

Lord Jesus, the thought of Your pain grieves us beyond words. But You discharged our indebtedness on the cross. Help us to know that our own pain is not useless. We can bear that pain, if it is in Your name.

Use us to build up this city we call home, Lord. Use us to hold this nation together. Use us to make this world Yours.